Alstom S.A: Alstom to convert Singapore East West Line stations to the Urbalis signalling system for the Thomson-East Coast Line extension (TELe)

Tue, Aug 5, 2025, 2:00 AM 4 min read

• The Land Transport Authority of Singapore has awarded the contract to Alstom for the design, supply, installation, testing and commissioning of the Urbalis CBTC system to enable fully automated, high-capacity operation.

• The contract scope covers converting Tanah Merah, Expo, and Changi Airport stations to the TEL system, and equipping the line’s extension to the future Changi Airport Terminal 5.

• TELe, the Thomson-East Coast Line extension to Changi Airport will provide a direct, high-speed connection to central city areas and residential zones, cutting travel times for both commuters and international travellers.

5 August 2025 – Alstom, a global leader in smart and sustainable mobility, has been awarded a contract by the Land Transport Authority of Singapore to deliver a high-capacity driverless signalling system for the stations of the East West Line which will connect to the Thomson-East Coast Line extension (TELe). The contract, worth a couple of hundred million euros covers the conversion of Tanah Merah, Expo, and Changi Airport stations to TEL, and the equipment of the line extension to the future Changi Airport Terminal 5 station. This extension will directly connect the TEL to Changi Airport, improving passenger experience and journey efficiency, while advancing Singapore’s Land Transport Master Plan 2040 (LTMP 2040) objective of seamless, end-to-end connectivity.

As the signalling consortium leader, Alstom will provide its Urbalis CBTC system, the same platform already in successful operation on TEL, while its consortium partner, ST Engineering Urban Solutions Ltd. will provide the Data Communication System (DCS) and Platform Screen Doors (PSD).

The TEL extension to Changi Airport will provide a direct, high-speed connection to central city areas and residential zones, cutting travel times for both commuters and international travellers. This development represents a key milestone under the LTMP 2040 plan to deliver greater connectivity, resilience, and inclusivity in Singapore’s land transport system.

Upon completion, the 57 km TEL will run from Tanah Merah through major locations like Gardens by the Bay, Maxwell, Orchard, and up to Woodlands North, with a transfer option to the Johor Bahru - Singapore Rapid Transit System Link. The TEL is expected to reduce travel time between Changi Airport and Marina Bay from 55 minutes to approximately 45 minutes. Additionally, journeys between Changi Airport and Gardens by the Bay will be shortened to 40 minutes via the TEL, compared to the current 60-minute duration.